SOARING levels of violent attacks and theft has sparked concern over police cuts.

New data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that crime has increased across the country - with crime in Essex increasing by more than eight per cent.

Between March 2015 and 2016, a total of 111,022 crimes were recorded in Essex - which jumped to 120,658 a year later.

Violence increased across Basildon, Castle Point and Southend. Basildon residents experienced 3,501 violent attacks in the year ending March 2016, which increased to 4,027 a year later. Castle Point had 3,989 up to 4,361 and Southend had 4,068 up to 4,375.

Thefts also increased across south Essex.

Southend West MP Sir David Amess said: “Our local police do a wonderful job in preventing crime in the first place, finding those responsible for criminal actions and finally doing their best to keep our people safe in the light of the threat of terrorism.

“I am surprised to learn of these figures and will be asking Roger Hirst, Police and Crime Commissioner, for an explanation as for the reasons behind this rise. If any resident has a specific issue about policing in the area I represent I urge them to contact me.”

Latest figures also reveal Essex Police is facing several challenges including reducing numbers of police officers, staff and PCSOs.

In 2010 there were 6,211 full time employees at Essex Police. As of March 31 this year, the number had dropped to 4,840. This includes about 800 police officers.

The number of part-time employees is also understood to have fallen significantly while the population of Essex has been rising.

Rebecca Harris, Conservative MP for Castle Point, said the increase in crime is a “major concern.”

She said: “Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst increased the policing element of our council tax this May, in order to raise an extra £3.1million pounds for Essex Police to pay for additional police officers and special constables which they are already actively recruiting.

“After many years of falling crime, any increase must be taken very seriously and the police also need to deal with many new crimes such as cyberstalking and fraud. The one positive is that the crime figures are all being accurately reported and that many more victims of crimes like sexual abuse and domestic violence are having more confidence to come forward and report them. I hope that the rapid increase in police numbers will help to put this upwards trend back into reverse.”

David McGlone, Southend Conservative councillor for St Laurence Ward, said the increase in reported crime is “worrying.”

He said: “Obviously people put different spins on this as to what the cause is, but I think it is a probably a multitude of things. The main one we hear is that is it because the number of police officers have been cut. I think that is too easy to go down that road.

“There is no evidence to say a substantial increase in police officers would decrease the figures. I think one of the reasons is that we have had a population increase.

“Certainly in Southend, we have seen an increase in the number of residents being here. If there are more people, it makes sense that there will be more crimes.”

An Essex Police spokesman told the Echo the county is still a safe place to live - with overall crime being lower than the national average.

He said: “Increases in crime are in line with the national picture, however, we can’t ignore the fact that reports compared to the same period last year have risen.

“As a police force, these increases are a result of more victims having the confidence to come forward and report incidents such as sexual offences and domestic abuse, much of which happen in the home not the high street. Figures have shown that around one third of violence against a person crime is domestic in nature.

“Essex Police actively encourages anyone who has experienced a crime to report it. We are seeing crimes that may have previously gone unreported being reported and investigated.”